Worker pinned under boat at Rhode Island yard

Posted on July 25th, 2012

A worker who was painting the bottom of a 6,000-pound boat at the Standish Boat Yard was in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital after a support gave way and the boat crushed his abdomen and chest.

WPRI reported that the man working on the boat was the boatyard owner’s son-in-law.

Tiverton Police Lt. Patrick Jones told the East Bay Times on Tuesday that Kyle St. Pierre, 25, was working under a boat at the yard in Tiverton, R.I., when “a support gave way,” crushing his chest.

Eyewitnesses told WPRI that St. Pierre, the boatyard owner’s son-in-law, was completely pinned underneath the 35-foot boat for several minutes. Bystanders used a forklift to raise the boat.

Edmond Belisle said that when he saw how grave the situation was, he did the first thing that came to his mind.

“I grabbed the forklift [and] helped them raise the boat and drag him out,” Belisle told the TV station. “They dragged him out while I raised up the boat.”

The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration was contacted and is involved in the investigation of the accident, according to the East Bay Times.

Comments

When I paint bottoms usage of a roller extention is always prudent. Never ever trust stands or blocks to hold up a boat. Cradles are always safer. All employees should be trained to never get under a suspended or blocked boat ever unless additional stable supports are added ie travel lift, forklift etc. Even then it is risky. Hope he recovers.